דוקטורנטים מספרים - Adva Sahar

Walking and walkability - Understanding pedestrian behavior in urban environments

Adva Sahar (Ph.D. candidate)

Supervisors: Prof. Juval Portugali and Prof. Itzhak Omer

As a PhD student in the Department of Geography and Human Environment, I am a part of the Urban Space Analysis Lab. My PhD deals with the cognitive and psychological aspects of human spatial behavior and its reciprocal relations with the urban environment. More specifically, I study walkability in cities, that is, the level by which a city, a street, or a neighborhood encourages walking.

Ever since the modern age, and mainly following the introduction of the automobile, city planning has grown away from its ancient walking orientation and pedestrian-hostile environments began to appear. Nowadays, as environmental issues are more pressing, and mobility is becoming more of a challenge with the massive growth of population and urbanization, city walking is recognized again, and applied as a key solution. Walking is valued as an accessible, ecological and just transportation mode and cities are looking for ways to increase pedestrian movement and promote more sustainable lifestyles.

For city dwellers, many factors are involved in the decision-making process of whether to walk or to use other modes of transportation to reach a destination. The focus of my research is on the way people perceive, learn and memorize the environment and create a "cognitive map" - an internal representation of the external environment that allows navigation and wayfinding.  The cognitive map is constructed through movement, accessories such as maps, and communication with other people. It captures the individual's past experiences, social affiliations, and sense of place. It is also highly related to the structure of the urban environment, the street network, design properties, what it offers in terms of possibilities, and how ordered or disordered it is.

The environment has a critical impact on behavior and the decision to walk. More evidence-based planning is needed to promote walking and other alternative modes of transportation. Understanding the way the environment affects behavior may benefit cities in their quest for more walkable streets and neighborhoods, to reduce congestion, and solve mobility inequalities. This knowledge will contribute to the physical and mental health and wellbeing of urban residents, and to a more sustainable future for cities.